Estrogenic compounds and animal growth promoters



United States Patent 3,239,352 ESTROGENIC QOMPOUNDS AND ANIMAL GRUWTH PRQMOTERS Edward B. Hodge, Phil H. Hidy, and Herbert L. Wehrmeister, all of Terre Haute, Ind, assignors to Commercial Solvents Corporation, a corporation of Maryland No Drawing. Filed Feb. 15, 1965, Ser. No. 432,871

20 Claims. (Cl. 99-2) The present invention relates to new compounds and an object of the present invention is to provide compounds which exhibit estrogenic activity or aid in increasing the rate of growth in meat-producing animals, e.g., cattle, lamb and swine.

A conventional formula for the compounds of the present invention is:

A (CHM,

where A is the radical -CH:CH-- or the radical CH CH and R is hydrogen or substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, e.g., lower alkyl such as methyl, ethyl, hexyl, etc., but hydrogen is preferred. Compounds having the above formula wherein R is substituted or unsubstituted aryl, e.g., phenyl and bromophenyl; acyl, e.g., acetyl and valeryl; and aralkyl, e.g., benzyl, are also contemplated by the present invention.

The compounds can be administered to animals by any suitable method including oral and parenteral administrations. For example, the compound can be blended with ordinary feed containing nutritional values in an amount suflicient to produce the desired rate of growth and can thus be fed directly to the animals, or the compound can be suspended in a suitable injection suspension medium such as peanut oil and injected parenterally. The amount of compound fed to an animal, of course, varies depending upon the animal, desired rate of growth and the like.

When the new products are to be administered in feeds, an animal feed composition may be prepared containing the usual nutritionally balance-d quantities of carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins and minerals, together with the compound of the present invention. Some of these usual dietary elements are grains, such as ground grain and grain by-products; animal protein substances, such as those found in fish meal and meat scraps; vegetable proteins like soybean oil meal or peanut oil meal; vitaminaceous materials, e.g., vitamin A and D mixtures; riboflavin supplements and other vitamin B complex members; and bone meal and limestone to provide minerals. A type of conventional feed material for use With cattle includes alfalfa hay and ground corn cobs together with supplementary vitaminaceous substances if desired.

The compounds of the present invention can be produced from the compound:

hereinafter referred to as the fermentation estrogenic substance (F.E.S.) by oximation of the ketone group. If the compound wherein the olefinic bond is reduced is desired, reduction of the double bond to add two hydrogen atoms should precede oximation of the ketone group. The nomenclature used herein is based upon the F.E.S. compound. For example, the compound produced upon oximation of the ketone group is referred to as F.E.S. oxime. Compounds of this invention where both Rs are alkyl are referred to as dialkyl-, and where one of the Rs is alkyl, as monoalkyl-, F.E.S. oxime and compounds having the olefinic bond reduced are referred to as dihydro F.E.S. oximes.

Oximation can be accomplished by reaction of a F.E.S. compound such as dihydro dimethyl PBS. with hydroxylammonium chloride or a hydroxylammonium chloride reagent solution.

The olefinic bond of F.E.S. can be reduced, for example, by hydrogenation in the presence of a Group VIII metal, particularly platinum or palladium, catalyst supported on a suitable carrier, e.g., charcoal. Generally, the catalyst contains from about 0.01 to about 10% of the catalytic metal. The catalyst is used in a ratio of generally between about 0.02 and 2 grams and preferably between about 0.1 to 0.5 gram, particularly 0.2 gram, catalyst per gram of F.E.S. The reduction may be carried out while F.E.S. is suspended in a suitable solvent, e.g., an alcohol, especially a lower alkanol such as 2-propanol, ethanol, methanol, etc. and acids e.g. acetic acid, at ambient temperatures or temperatures of, for example, 15 to 40 C., and ambient pressures since only the presence of hydrogen is required. The use of elevated pressure, e.g., from about 1 to atmospheres, is, however, preferred.

in producing compounds of the present invention where R is alkyl, conventional alkylation procedures can be used to replace the H atom of one or both of the OH groups on the benzene ring of F.E.S. with an alkyl group. Alkylated PBS. and dihydro F.E.S. oximes can be produced, for example, by first alkylating F.E.S. or dihydro F.E.S. and then oximating it as set forth supra. The alkylation can be by reaction with the corresponding dialkyl sulfates, e.g., dimethyl sulfate, diethyl sulfate, etc. to produce the corresponding dialkyl compound or monoalkyl compound with the alkyl group replacing the hydrogen of the hydroxyl group on the benzene ring ortho to the ester group. Furthermore, a monomethyl F.E.S. compound with the methyl group replacing the hydrogen of the hydroxyl group para to the ester group can be selectively produced using diazomethane.

The fermentation estrogenic substance (F.E.S.) is so named since of convenient method for producing it is by cultivating, on a suitable nutrient medium, the organism Gibberella zeae (Gordon) on deposit at the Northern Utilization Research and Development Division of the United States Department of Agriculture under the number NRRL2830.

The following examples are offered to illustrate this invention; however, the invention is not limited to the specific materials, amounts, and procedures set forth. The first example illustrates preparation of a suitable inoculum containing the organism Gibberella zeae (Gordon) NRRL-2830.

Example I A spore sand culture containing Gibberella zeae (Gordon) NRRL-2830 was aseptically placed. in a sterile tube containing milliliters of Czapeks-Dox solution and a small amount of agar. This medium was then incubated for about 168 hours at approximately 25 C. At the end of the incubation period, the medium was washed with 5 milliliters of sterile deionized water and transferred to a sterile tube containing 45 milliliters of Czapeks-Dox solution. The contents of the tube were then incubate-d for about 96 hours at about 25 C. after which the material was available for use in inoculation of a fermentation medium.

The following example illustrates the fermentation of the organism Gibberella zeae (Gordon) NRRL-2830 to produce F.E.S.

Example II To a 2 liter flask were added 300 grams of finely divided corn. The flask and its contents were then sterilized and after sterilization 150 milliliters of sterile deionized water were added. To the mixture in the flask were then added 45 milliliters of the inoculum prepared by the process of Example I and the material was thoroughly mixed. The mixed material was then incubated for about days at C. in a dark room in a watersaturated. atmosphere.

The following example illustrates the recovery of F.E.S. from the fermentation medium.

Example III A 300 gram portion of fermented material produced by the method of Example II was placed in 500 milliliters of deionized water and slurried. The slurry was then heated for about 15 minutes at 75 C., 300 grams of filter aid were then added and the material was filtered. The solid filtered material containing the anabolic substance was then air dried, and 333 grams of the dried cake were then extracted with 500 milliliters of ethanol. This procedure was repeated three more times. The ethanol extract was evaporated to dryness under vacuum to give 6.84 grams of solid material. This solid material was then dissolved in 20 milliliters of chloroform and extracted with milliliters of an aqueous solution containing 5% by weight of sodium carbonate having an adjusted pH of about 11.2. The extraction process was repeated seven more times. The pH of the sodium-carbonate extract was then adjusted to 6.2 with hydrochloric acid, to yield an anabolic substance containing precipitate. The precipitate and the aqueous sodium carbonate extract were then each in turn extracted with 75 milliliters of ethyl ether. This procedure was repeated three more times to yield a light yellow ethereal solution, which was then evaporated to yield 116 milligrams of solid anabolic substance. This material was then subjected to multiple transfer countercurrent distribution using 100 tiubes and a solvent system consisting of two parts chloroform and two parts carbon tetrachloride as the lower phase and four parts methanol and one part water as the upper phase, all parts by volume. The solid material obtained from the multiple transfer countercurrent distribution was F.E.S.

The following example illustrates the production of dihydrodin1ethylF.E.S. oxime.

Example 1V F.E.S. in acetic acid was catalytically hydrogenated to produce dihydro F.E.S. at room temperature in the presence of PdO at a hydrogen pressure of about psi. The resulting dihydro F.E.S. was dissolved in a mixture of 10% NaOH and water, and while stirring the solution, dimethyl sulfate was added. The dihydrodimethyl F.E.S. so produced was then oximated as follows:

Hydroxylammonium chloride (3.5 grams) was added to a solution of 2.65 grams dihydrodimethyl F.E.S. in milliliters ethanol and 40 milliliters pyridine. The clear solution was refluxed for 2 hours and evaporated to a volume of 5-10 milliliters. Water (25 milliliters) was added and the aqueous mixture was extracted with benzene. The dried extract was evaporated to dryness to yield. 2.99 grams of a tacky white solid. Crystallization of this product from a mixture of 10 milliliters water and 15 milliliters ethanol provided 1.2 grams of material which melted at 126128 C. Recrystallization of 65 milligrams of this material from aqueous ethanol provided 43 milligrams of dihydrodimethyl F.E.S. oxime having a melting point of 130-132 C. and analyzing:

Cale. Found (CzoHzsNOi) Percent C 66.10 66. 52 Percent II 8. 04 8.03 Percent N 3.85 3. 91

Example V Dihydro F.E.S. oxime is produced according to the procedure of Example IV by omitting the alkylation step.

Example VI Dihydrodiethyl F.E.S. oxime is produced following the procedures of Example IV by substituting diethyl sulfate for the dimethyl sulfate.

The following example illustrates the oximation of F.E.S.

Example VII E b-n where a grams of F.E.S. liberate an amount of acid corresponding to b milliliters base of normality n. This procedure when applied to a total of 53 milligrams F.E.S. indicated a F.E.S. equivalent weight of 328 which indicates that F.E.S. has one oximatable carbonyl group.

Dilution of the titration mixtures with water yielded two crops of crystals: crop A, 12.9 milligram of product having a melting point of 200202 C.; and crop B, 19.9 milligram of product having a melting point of 201 203 C. Crops A and B were combined and recrystallized from a mixture of 10 millilters ethanol and 20 milliliters water to yield 23 milligrams of F.E.S. oxime having a melting point of 202.5205.5 C. and analyzing:

Cale. Found rs nos Percent C 64. 84 G3. 62 Percent II. 6.95 7.05 Percent N- 4. 20 4. 15

Example VIII oxime having a melting point of 210-211 C. and analyzing:

Cale. Found 1s 2sO5 Percent C 64. 84 64. 91 Percent H- 6. 95 6. 97 Percent N 4. 20 4. 22

Example IX Dimethyl sulfate (5 milliliters) was added to a solution of 2.24 grams RES. in 80 milliliters of a NaOH solution and milliliters of water. The mixture was stirred for one-half horn at 1820 C. (cooling bath) and an additional 5 milliliters of dimethyl sulfate was added. After an additional 70 minutes of stirring at 2026 C., the solid precipitate, solid A, was collected by filtration, washed with water and dried. The filtrate from solid A was acidified with milliliters 12 N H 50; to yield a second precipitate, solid B, which was collected, washed with water, and dried.

Solid A (0.79 gram having a melting point of 114- 118 C.) was recrystallized from a mixture of 10 milliliters water and 15 milliliters ethanol to yield 0.66 gram of dimethyl F.E.S. having a melting point of 108- 110 C.

Solid B (1.39 grams having a melting point of 152- 162 C.) was recrystallized twice from a mixture of water and alcohol to yield 0.80 gram of monomethyl F.E.S. product having a melting point of 169174 C. Analysis of solid B showed:

The ketone group is oximated according to the procedure of Example VII.

Example XI Monomethyl F.E.S. with the methyl group replacing the hydrogen of the hydroxyl group on the benzene ring para to the ester group was prepared by the following procedure.

Nitrosomethylurea in an amount of 1.2 grams was slowly added to a cold mixture of 3.6 milliliters of 50% potassium hydroxide and 17 milliliters of ether. After a few minutes the yellow ether layer of the mixture was decanted, dried over potassium hydroxide, and then added to a solution of 0.30 gram F.E.S. in 17 milliliters of ether. The resulting yellow mixture was left overnight in a loosely stoppered flask and then ether and diazomethane were evaporated off using a steam bath. The remaining gummy residue was crystallized by adding 3 milliliters of water, heating to 60 C., and adding ethanol almost to solution. On cooling, crystals formed, yielding 0.137 gram of product having a melting point of Ill-116 C. which was recrystallized in the same way to yield 0.082

gram of monomethyl F.E.S. having a melting point of -122 C. and the following analysis:

Cale. Found 10 2405) Percent O"... 68.7 68.3 Percent H... 7. 28 7. 38 Percent OOHa 9.34 9.17

The ketone group is oximated according to the procedure of Example VII.

Example XII Six head of cattle are fed a daily ration including a mixture of alfalfa hay and ground corn cobs containing from 1 to 20 ounces of dihydro F.E.S. oxime per hundred pounds of ration.

Example XIII Six head of cattle are fed a daily ration including a mixture of alfalfa hay and ground corn cobs containing from 1 to 20 ounces of F.E.S. oxime per hundred pounds of ration.

It is claimed:

wherein A is selected from the group consisting of the radical --CH=CH- and the radical CH -CH and R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and lower alkyl.

2. The compound of claim 1 wherein A is the radical CH=CH and R is hydrogen.

3. The compound of claim 1 wherein A is the radical --CH CH- and R is lower alkyl.

4. The compound of claim 1 wherein A is the radical --CH -CH -and R is lower alkyl.

5. The compound of claim 1 wherein A is the radical CH CH and R is hydrogen.

6. An animal feed comprising a nutritional diluent and growth promoting amounts of the compound of claim 1.

7. The compound of claim 1 wherein A is the radical CH:CH and the R ortho to the ester group is methyl and the other R is hydrogen.

8. The compound of claim 1 wherein A is the radical -CH=CH and the R para to the ester group is methyl and the other R is hydrogen.

9. The compound of claim 1 wherein A is the radical -CH CH and R is methyl.

10. The compound of claim 1 wherein A is the radical CH CI-I and R is methyl.

11. The compound of claim 1 wherein A is the radical CH CH and R is ethyl.

12. An animal feed comprising a and growth promoting amounts of claim 2.

13. An animal feed comprising a and growth promoting amounts of claim 3.

14. An animal feed comprising a and growth promoting amounts of claim 4.

15. An animal feed comprising a and growth promoting amounts of claim 5.

16. An animal feed comprising a and growth promoting amounts of claim 7.

17. An animal feed comprising a and growth promoting amounts of claim 8.

nutritional diluent the compound of nutritional diluent the compound of nutritional diluent the compound of nutritional diluent the compound of nutritional diluent the compound of nutritional diluent the compound of 7 8 18. An animal feed comprising a nutritional diluent References Cited by the Examiner and growth promoting amounts of the compound of UNITED STATES PATENTS claim 9.

19. An animal feed comprising a nutritional diluent 2,842,051 8/1958 Bnan et 99-4 and growth promoting amounts of the compound of 5 OTHER REFERENCES Clam Stob et al., Nature, vol. 196, page 1318, December 29,

20. An animal feed comprising a nutritional diluent 1962 and growth promoting amounts of the compound of claim 11. A. LOUIS MONACELL, Primary Examiner. 

6. AS ANIMAL FEED COMPRISING A NUTRITIONAL DILUENT AND GROWTH PROMOTING AMOUNTS OF THE COMPOUND OF CLAIM
 1. 